Making friends outside your flat.
By now, you have probably sussed out your flat mates and hopefully bonded with them. But what if you want to stretch your social network a bit more?
Now you are here at University, hopefully you are a bit more relaxed and you are realising that it isn’t actually as daunting as you first thought. How ever, if you are still nervous — do not worry. It is 100% NORMAL. You may see everyone out laughing, but there are many who do struggle at first.
So let’s say you don’t get on with your flat mates, and you don’t quite know how to get out there and make some friends? Hopefully, this blog should help you get started, as I pass on my knowledge of the best things to do to expand your network.
Join a Society
I know I have mentioned societies in my prior blogs for the University, but I cannot stress how good the societies and sports teams are. Now, before you make any excuses on why not to sign up to one, what ever you are thinking, don’t. There is such a wide array of groups that it doesn’t matter what you are in to. Whether you want to go out big and join Rugby, or if you just want to watch films with others — there is a cinema society that meets up once a week in a lecture room to watch a film together (they even provide snacks!).
Now don’t panic before you think its too late to join any of these. Although Union day has passed, a full list of the clubs and societies can be found online on our Student Union’s website with each clubs contact details. Failing that, they all have Facebook and Twitter pages that are easy to find, just type in University of Northampton (Or UoN for some) and then the Club, and you will find it. Just drop them a message and they will get back to you with the next meeting details.
Just follow this link and go under the ‘activities’ tab to find out what you might want to join.
Try to make a course friend
With everyones courses starting (or already started), it can be a daunting thing to walk in to a class and just a lot of different faces that you haven’t seen before. But it’s here that it’s your moment to shine. Everyone is sat there wanting to meet their new course mates, so you wont have a moment where you feel shunned for sitting next to someone. Just go in, sit down, and say hi, it really is that easy.
After your seminar, workshop, or lecture, even if the conversation hasn’t flowed that well maybe see if they want to grab a coffee somewhere — there is plenty of options for you to go at Waterside.
Work those group chats
Although I don’t know what the group chats for halls are like this year, I know they exist and I know what mine were like. If you see put in that they are having a party in their flat — it isn’t a hoax, they are genuinely inviting others. Reply back and get in conversation, before you know it you will be round there having a good night.
That may seem daunting, so maybe see if your flat mates would want to go as well, even if its just one more person to go with you — if this years first years are like mine were, everyone is welcome.
Say YES!
The best thing about being a first year is that there is lots of opportunities to get involved with lots of different things. From the University holding different events, to just having a casual conversation and someone saying they fancy a Nando’s. Just say yes to it. I know it can be nerve racking, but you just need to throw yourself in to the deep end in a way and say yes to a few things at first and before you know it you will have a thriving social life.
Explore campus
One of the best things about having a brand new campus, is that even myself and other third years / second years are trying to explore it and see where our new favourite coffee shop and library seat is. Take advantage of this. Especially if you have the luxury of living on Waterside, just go out for a walk — maybe grab a coffee and just say hi to the person next to you in the queue, its these little things that will help you live a happier social life at University. Most people here will remember faces, theres many people I know that I’ve never really spoken to, but some how will always end up saying hi to each other as we pass around campus.
Throw yourself in there!
I know, all of my tips so far might have felt too far fetched for some people, and you might still be very nervous to do any of this. But the best the thing about University is that it is not like how it was back home for you. Some people may not like it at first because it isn’t like home, but all of those who I know that felt like that at first soon came to love it because of this. There’s no other place where you can be living with a group of friends, intensely studying one moment, then two seconds later be having an amazing time one of the many events the University holds. So embellish the fact that you are away from home, and if you are struggling then set yourself small tasks, even if its just to talk to one new person a day, you will soon feel right at home here.
